Beginning Tuesday, US military veterans in an “acute suicidal crisis” can receive free treatment, including up to 30 days inpatient care and up to 90 days outpatient care. The extension of care was announced Friday by the Department of Veterans Affairs and is intended to “prevent veteran suicide by providing free, world-class care to veterans in times of crisis.” Veterans seeking such assistance can apply to any VA or non-VA health care facility, the release said, and they do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to receive assistance. “Veterans in suicidal crisis can now receive the free, world-class emergency healthcare they deserve, regardless of where they need it, when they need it, or if they’re enlisted in Veterans Assistance,” he said in the statement. VA Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said. “This expansion of care will save veterans’ lives, and there’s nothing more important than that.” paid or reimbursed by the VA. The policy will also apply to former service members, including those in the Reserves, who served “more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation” who were discharged on terms other than dishonorable and veterans who have been victims of sexual assault, sexual battery, or sexual harassment while on duty. costs and follow-up care at a VA or non-VA facility, to include 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care. The policy will also allow the VA to make “appropriate referrals” after a period of emergency suicide assistance, determine veterans’ eligibility for other services and benefits from the VA, and refer veterans who received emergency care to other programs and benefits. IT GOES. The VA’s 2022 Veterans Suicide Report says that in 2020, 6,146 U.S. veterans died by suicide, which was 343 fewer than in 2019. Suicide was the 13th leading cause of death among veterans in 2020, says the report, and the second leading cause of death among veterans under 45. A Department of Defense report released in October 2022 found that 519 U.S. service members, including active duty, Reserve, and National Guard troops, died by suicide in 2021. high risk of suicide was the second priority goal of a Veterans and Military Suicide Prevention Strategy released by the White House in 2021. “Individuals at imminent or high risk of suicide should be ensured equitable access to crisis care quality and follow-up support,” states the strategy report. President Jo and Biden said in their 2021 report that the United States is “falling short” of the “one truly sacred obligation for Americans … to take care of themselves and their families when they return.” the power to live up to our most sacred obligations,” she said. “We owe it to the memories of those we’ve lost — and we owe it to the future of those we might save.” Editor’s Note: If you or a loved one have contemplated suicide, call The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to connect with a qualified counselor.
Beginning Tuesday, US military veterans in an “acute suicidal crisis” can receive free treatment, including up to 30 days inpatient care and up to 90 days outpatient care.
The extension of care was announced Friday by the Department of Veterans Affairs and is intended to “prevent veteran suicide by providing free, world-class care to veterans in times of crisis.”
Veterans seeking such assistance can go to any VA or non-VA health facility, the release said, and do not have to be enrolled in the VA system to receive assistance.
“Veterans in suicidal crisis can now receive the free, world-class emergency healthcare they deserve, regardless of where they need it, when they need it, or if they are enrolled in VA assistance,” Denis McDonough, secretary of the VA for Veterans Affairs said in the release. “This expansion of care will save veterans’ lives, and there’s nothing more important than that.”
The new policy states that veterans who have been discharged after more than two years of service under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible for treatment, which will be paid for or reimbursed by the VA.
The policy will also apply to former service members, including those in the Reserves, who served “more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of an emergency operation” who were discharged on terms other than dishonorable and to veterans who have been victims of sexual assault, sexual battery, or sexual harassment while on duty.
According to the VA release, the policy “[p]Provide, pay for, or reimburse eligible veterans’ emergency suicide care treatment, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a VA or non-VA facility, to include 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care .
The policy will also allow the VA to make “appropriate referrals” after a period of emergency suicide care, determine veterans’ eligibility for other services and benefits from the VA, and refer veterans who received emergency care to other VA programs and benefits. .
The VA’s 2022 Veterans Suicide Report says that in 2020, 6,146 U.S. veterans died by suicide, which is 343 fewer than in 2019. Suicide was the 13th leading cause of death among veterans in 2020, the report said, and the second leading cause of death among veterans under age 45.
A Department of Defense report released in October 2022 found that 519 U.S. service members, including active duty, Reserve, and National Guard troops, died by suicide in 2021.
Expanding care for veterans at high risk of suicide was the second priority goal of a Veterans and Military Suicide Prevention Strategy released by the White House in 2021.
“Individuals at imminent risk or high risk of suicide should be ensured equitable access to high-quality crisis care and follow-up support,” the strategic report states.
President Joe Biden said in the 2021 report that the United States is “falling short” of the “one truly sacred obligation of Americans … to take care of themselves and their families when they return.”
“It’s up to us to do everything in our power to live up to our most sacred obligations,” he said. “We owe it to the memories of those we’ve lost and we owe it to the future of those we could save.”
Editor’s Note: If you or a loved one has contemplated suicide, call The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to connect you with a qualified counselor.